Device for facilitating the loading of fishing line onto a reel

ABSTRACT

A device for use in conjunction with a conventional hand electrical drill to load a fishing line onto a fishing reel, comprises a generally L-shaped structure wherein the two legs thereof extend a right angle, one of the legs being adapted to be chucked within the drill and the other leg of which is adapted to engage the handle of the fishing reel to cause rotation of the handle and consequently rotation of the fishing reel spool when the drill motor is engaged.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the loading of line, e.g. fishing line, onto the spool of a reel, e.g. a fishing reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the past, such loading has been done tediously by hand in the case of loading fishing line onto a fishing reel, or by the use of special and relatively expensive equipment.

[0003] Attempts have also been made to use a hand drill to load fishing line onto a fishing reel, but these devices suffer from other disadvantages, e.g. in some cases it was necessary to disassemble the handle of the reel and then thread a tool chucked to the drill back to the reel, and then later reverse the operation; in addition to the inconvenience, these systems would often strip the screw threads out of the reel, and they were therefore unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, a simple device is utilized to facilitate the loading of a reel, in particular a fishing reel, such a device in its simplest form comprising an L-shaped member, it being understood that the device make take more complex forms so long as it comprises two elongated parts extended from one another at substantially a right-angle, i.e. approximately 90°, one such part being adapted to be received within the drill bit holder or shuck of a standard hand drill, and the other part being adapted to press against the crank handle of the fishing reel.

[0005] In use, the first mentioned part desirably, in the form of a rod, is chucked into the hand drill with the second part, also desirably in rod form, extending sufficiently far so as to press against the crank reel. An end of the fishing line is attached to the fishing reel spool and the drill motor is engaged thereby causing the second rod to rotate against the crank handle, driving the spool of the reel and feeding the fishing line onto the spool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0006] Objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art from consideration of the following description of certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken together with the attached drawing of a preferred specific embodiment, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention from one side thereof;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a similar view from the other side of said embodiment;

[0009]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of said device in use; and

[0010]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] One embodiment 10 of a device according to the present invention comprises a first rod 12 having a free end 14, the rod 12 desirably being of a circular-cylindrical configuration and formed of a strong metal such as stainless steel or anodized aluminum. If the rod 12 is of the preferred circular-cylindrical configuration as shown, then its free end 14 is desirably provided with a series of flat portions 16, preferably three such flat portions 16 spaced 120° from one another, to better secure the free end 14 in the chuck 32 of a drill, e.g. a hand drill, such as the hand drill 30 shown in FIG. 3A.

[0012] The end of the rod 12 opposite the free end 14 is retained in a suitable connector 20 of high strength material, e.g. aluminum, stainless steel or so-called engineering plastic, preferably Delrin® plastic, although other materials can also be used. The free end of the connector 20 is desirably provided with a recess 18 for the purpose explained below. Most desirably, the connector is provided with an axial through hole in which the rod 12 is retained, with the far end constituting the recess 18.

[0013] Extending from the connector 20 at exactly or approximately a right angle or 90° from the axis of the first rod 12 is a cross piece rod 22, also formed of a suitable strong and preferably oxidation and corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel, anodized aluminum, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod 22 is somewhat longer than the rod 12, and is also somewhat thinner. The rod 22 is also encircled with suitable sheath 24 of somewhat softer material, e.g. rubber or plastic.

[0014] In use, as shown in FIG. 3A, the free end 14 of the rod 12 is chucked into a drill 30, e.g. a ⅜ or ½ inch drill, and the recess 18 of the connector 20 is held against the center of the crank handle 40 of a fishing reel 42, coaxial with the axis of the rotatable spool of the fishing reel 42. The crosspiece 22 extends sufficiently far so as to press against the handle piece 41 of the crank handle 40, and the sheath 24 serves to prevent any scratching or other undesirable marking.

[0015] An end of the fishing line from a line supply, e.g. a supply spool, is attached to the rotatable spool of the fishing reel 42 in the appropriate location and the motor of the drill 30 is engaged whereby the crosspiece rod 22 presses against the handle piece 41 thus driving rotation of the reel spool and easily feeding the fishing line onto the reel.

[0016] Thus, a device according to the present invention comprises a first rod perpendicular to a second rod and connected thereto by a recess-containing, high strength connector. The first rod, preferably of circular-cylindrical configuration, is provided at its free end with several flat portions to provide a more secure fit with the chuck of a hand drill into which it is intended to be inserted. The second rod, of somewhat longer and preferably thinner dimension than the first rod, is encircled with a suitable soft material, e.g. a rubber or plastic sheath.

[0017] In use, the first rod is chucked into the drill and the recess of the connector is held against the center of the fishing reel handle, with the second rod extending perpendicular thereto so as to press against the crank handle of the reel. Once a fishing line from supply is attached to the fishing reel spool and the motor of the hand drill is engaged, the second rod presses against the reel handle, rotatably driving the spool and feeding the fishing line onto the reel spool.

[0018] It is clear that variations can be made in the construction, shapes and materials without departing from the invention.

[0019] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

[0020] Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for facilitating the loading of a line onto the spool of a reel, comprising a first rod having a free end adapted to mate with a drill chuck, a connector at an end of said first rod opposite said first end, and a crosspiece rod extending outwardly at an angle of 90 degrees or approximately 90 degrees from said first rod, said crosspiece rod being adapted to engage with a crank handle of a reel, and said connector being adapted to nest against the reel handle center.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said connector has a recess at its end opposite said first rod, wherein said recess is adapted to nest with the center of a crank handle of a fishing reel.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said cross piece rod is provided with a covering of soft material.
 4. A device for facilitating the loading of a line onto a reel, comprising a generally L-shaped configuration with a first leg having a free end adapted to mate with a drill chuck and a second leg adapted to engage with a crank handle of the reel, said second leg extending from said first leg at an angle of 90 degrees or approximately 90 degrees, and a structure adapted to nest against the center portion of the crank handle of the reel, said structure being located at an end of said first leg adjacent a position at which said second leg is connected to said first leg.
 5. A combination of a device according to claim 1 with a drill, wherein said free end of said first rod is chucked within said drill.
 6. A combination of a device according to claim 2 with a drill and a fishing reel, wherein said free end of said first rod is chucked within said drill, and further comprising a fishing reel having a crank handle, and wherein said recess is in nesting relationship with the center of said fishing reel crank handle.
 7. A method for winding a fishing line onto a fishing reel using a device according to claim 1, comprising attaching an end of a fishing line to a rotatable spool of a fishing reel; inserting said free end of said first rod within the chuck of a drill and engaging said free end to said drill; nesting said connector against the center portion of a crank handle of a fishing reel, concentric with the axis of the spool of the fishing reel, and with said cross piece rod engaging a portion of the crank handle of the fishing reel distal from said center portion of said fishing reel; and activating said drill to cause rotation of said spool and loading of said fishing line onto said spool. 